Caltrain board OKs budget that keeps all trains running, all stations open

In a major step toward keeping all 86 of Caltrain's trains running and all stations open, the agency's board approved a conceptual operating budget with parking and fare increases -- much to the relief of Caltrain supporters who packed a meeting Thursday in San Carlos.

A 25-cent fare hike and $1 parking increase are now a sure thing, but Caltrain and its riders must still wait until the Metropolitan Transportation Commission makes a final funding decision to know whether the 86-train budget will become reality. The MTC, a regional planning agency, will likely provide $3.5 million to close Caltrain's budget gap, but details haven't been finalized.

"We are in talks with the MTC now and are cautiously optimistic," Gigi Harrington, Caltrain's deputy CEO, said in a presentation to the board at a special, budget-oriented meeting Thursday.

"This is not the final vote," board member Ken Yeager said. "First, we must identify the capital funds shifted to operating funds by the MTC. They may come from vehicle replacement for Caltrain."

Board members commented that the current budget is only a one-time deal and said it is critically important to identify a permanent, dedicated source of funding for Caltrain. Currently, the rail system depends on its partners -- SamTrans, the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and San Francisco Muni -- for much of its funding.

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In an interview Thursday, a national transit expert emphasized the importance of dedicated funding for public transit agencies.

"Without dedicated funds, it's a distraction from running the system because management devotes so much attention to the problem," said Art Guzzetti, vice president of policy for the American Public Transportation Association.

"It's a roller-coaster ride every year. If you know how much money is coming in, it is so much easier to make contracts and to put together a budget," he added.

Sales tax is one of the most common sources of dedicated income, Guzzetti said -- 54 percent of the nation's public transit systems' operating expenses come from such a levy. Other sources include property taxes, income taxes and gas taxes, he said.

"Pennsylvania has dedicated public transit funds from car rentals and car leases. In some states, real estate fees like transfer taxes go to support transit," Guzzetti said.

During the meeting, board member Adrienne Tissier identified "public-private partnerships, sales tax, a gas tax or a development fee on transit-oriented development" as potential long-term funding sources for Caltrain.

Riders at the downtown San Mateo station were gratified by the board's decision, which staves off significant service cuts. Caltrain was planning to eliminate 10 of its 86 trains, slow its Baby Bullets and shut down three stations: Hayward Park in San Mateo, Capitol in San Jose and Bayshore at the Brisbane-San Francisco line.

"That's good news," said Rowena Ramil, clapping her hands. Ramil commutes on Caltrain from San Jose to her job at Walgreens in San Mateo. Compared with the cost of driving, Ramil said, the 25-cent fare increase isn't bad.

"We've been following this in the paper," Ramil added. "It's so good that the stations aren't closing."

It wasn't just commuting but romance that was served by the board's decision.

"I visit this city a lot," said Alexandra Keller, who rides Caltrain from her home in San Francisco to San Mateo to visit her boyfriend. "I need that transportation."

"Oh, excellent. This is a win," said Kris Skootsky, of San Mateo, who took the train to San Jose State from San Mateo every day when she attended school there. She still rides regularly. Like Ramil, she said the 25-cent increase is manageable.

"I'd be willing to pay higher taxes to keep Caltrain running," Skootsky said. "I've ridden public transit in London and Japan and I'm used to reliable, safe, clean public transit. There's no reason we can't have that here."